Bracket for net in table tennis



Feb. 19, 1963 H. w. GOODENOUGH 3,078,094

BRACKET FOR NET IN TABLE TENNIS Filed Sept. 15, 1961 IN V EN TOR. flfA ZYM 6000.500'6 3,078,094 BRACKET F01 NET IN TABLE TENNES Henry W. Goodenough, Arlington, Mass., assignor to Harvard Specialty Manufacturing Corp, Cambridge,

Mass.

Filed Sept. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 138,325 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-30) This invention relates to a bracket which is used in pairs for mounting a net on a table in playing table tennis.

The object of the invention is to provide a bracket for mounting a net on a table which can be readily attached to and removed from the table.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the type described which is adjustable both for mounting on table tops of varying thicknesses and for receiving nets of different lengths and in which the movable parts of the bracket are secured to the fixed parts in such manner that they cannot be readily displaced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bracket which is longitudinally adjustable to enable the use of nets as long as, or longer than, the width of the table.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket for mounting a net on a table which is adjustable to provide for the use of a net of given length on varying widths of tables.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bracket for use in pairs in mounting a net on a table and from which the net may be readily removed, leaving the bracket still on the table.

Still other objects, advantages and improvements will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing one of the brackets mounting one end of a net on one side of a table;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the bracket;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, taken on the section line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the relative slidable mounting of the two principal component parts of the bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of one of the end sleeves on the net; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view through the latching plate.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and FIG. 1 in particular, there is here shown at 1% one overhanging side of a table top. A net 11 has selvage strips 12 at its top, which strips are folded double with the net received between them.

The bracket is designated generally at 13 and has an upper arm 13a and a lower arm 13b positioned in parallel relationship and both being at right angles to its main body strap. The upper arm 13a abuts the overhanging top of the table on its upper surface and the lower arm 13b is spaced apart from same to allow for varying thicknesses of the table tops. An eye bolt 14- is received in a suitable screw threaded hole (not shown) in the lower arm 13b and at its upper end carries a rotatably mounted disc 15, which abuts the under surface of the overhanging top of the table.

On its top the arm 13a has mounted thereon a guide 16 of open channel construction. This guide may be secured to the arm 13a in any suitable manner as by having its side walls welded thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, however, the side walls have pins 17 thereon which are force fitted in suitable holes in the arm 13a. A bar 18 is slidably mounted in the guide 16. At one end the bar 18 has a pin 19 therethrough, which is adapted to abut the guide 16 to limit sliding movement of the bar in one 3,078,094 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 EQQ direction; at its other end the bar 18 has mounted thereon a post 22, which is alsd adapted to abut the guide 16 to limit sliding movement of the bar in the opposite direction.

A sleeve 23 is adapted to fit over the post 22. At a predetermined distance above the bar 18 the post 22 is formed with diametrically opposite outstruck sections 22a, which form stops to limit movement of the sleeve downward along the post. Along its side wall the sleeve 23 is split and formed with complementary radially outwardly extending flanges 23(1-2312. The net 11 and upper and lower selvage edges 12-12 are received between the flanges 23a-23b and held in place by screws 24, which extend through aligned holes in the flanges 23a23a and have nuts 25 on their outer ends.

A latching plate 20 is formed by wings inclined relatively at an obtuse angle and have a slot 21 along its transverse center line. This latching plate is slidably mounted on the bar 18 and in the latched position abuts the vertical bar of the bracket 13.

In use, it will be apparent that two of the brackets 13 are used, the second one being turned through from that shown in FIG. 1. The brackets are secured to the overhanging sides of the table 10 by adjusting the eye bolts 14. When putting the net in place, the bars 18 are slid inwardly until the posts 22 abut the latching plate 20 and the latter the vertical bars of the clamps 13. The sleeves 23 may then be slid over the posts 22 until they abut the latching plates 21) and the latter the vertical straps of the brackets 13. It will be apparent that a net 11 of length equal to or greater than the width of the table may be used. The bars 18 on both brackets are now slid outwardly and, when the net 11 is taut, the latching plates 21 are tilted in the clockwise direction (FIG. 1) until their bottoms abut the vertical straps of the brackets 13. The bars 18 are now latched against longitudinal movement and the net 11 is held taut. In removing the net, the sleeves 23 may be merely slid off the posts 22. It is easier, however, to tilt the latching plates 20= in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 1) and allow the bars 18 to slide inwardly through the guides 16 under the tension of the net, and then to remove the sleeves 23.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A bracket for mounting a tennis net on a table including an arm, means to secure said arm to the top of the table, a guide fixed to said arm, a bar slidable in said guide, a post mounted on one end of said bar at right angles thereto, a stop pin on the opposite end of said bar engageable With one side of said guide to limit movement of said bar in one direction, a sleeve removably mounted on said post, said sleeve including portions defining a longitudinally extending slot therein, said portions of the sleeve defining the slot having confronting flanges to clampingly receive one end of a tennis net, and means on said bar to movably fix the same in a selected position relative to said arm.

2. A bracket for mounting a tennis net on a table in cluding an arm, means to secure said arm to the top of the table, an open channel guide fixed to said arm, a bar slidable in said guide, a post mounted on one end of said bar at right angles thereto, a stop pin on the opposite end of said bar engageable with one side of said guide to limit movement of said bar in one direction, a sleeve removably mounted on said post, said sleeve including portions defining a longitudinally extending slot therein, said portions of the sleeve defining the slot having confronting flanges to clampingly receive one end of the tennis net, and a latching plate on said bar operable to moveably fix the same in a selected position relative to said arm.

3. A bracket for mounting a tennis net on a table including a normally vertically disposed strap, an integral upper arm perpendicular to said strap, an integral lower arm perpendicular to said strap, said upper and lower arms being in aligned parallel relation, an attachment screw rotatably mounted in said lower arm, a disc rotatably mounted on one end of said attachment screw, said attachment screw operable to cause engagement of said disc to the under surface of the table top to secure the upper arm to the upper surface thereof, an open channel guide fixed to said upper arm, a bar slidable in said guide, a post mounted on one end of said bar at right angles thereto, a stop pin on the opposite end of said bar engageable with one side of said guide to limit movement of said bar in one direction, a sleeve removably mounted on said post, said sleeve including portions defining a longitudinally extending slot therein, said portions of the sleeve defining the slot having confronting flanges to clampingly receive one end of the tennis net, and a latching plate on said bar engageable with said vertically disposed strap to movably fix the bar in a selected position relative to said upper arm.

4. A bracket as defined in claim 3 wherein said latching plate includes wing portions inclined at an obtuse angle to each other, and portions of said latching plate defining a slot along its transverse center line through which said bar extends.

Ek Sept. 23, 1902 Nadelson May 17, 1949 

1. A BRACKET FOR MOUNTING A TENNIS NET ON A TABLE INCLUDING AN ARM, MEANS TO SECURE SAID ARM TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE, A GUIDE FIXED TO SAID ARM, A BAR SLIDABLE IN SAID GUIDE, A POST MOUNTED ON ONE END OF SAID BAR AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, A STOP PIN ON THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BAR ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE SIDE OF SAID GUIDE TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID BAR IN ONE DIRECTION, A SLEEVE REMOVABLY MOUNTED 